Wine-steamed Mussels with Aioli
Mussels have a sweet brininess that calls for a bracing wine, but one with sweet-seeming fruit. Pinot Gris is great on both fronts--and always good with aioli. Prep and Cook Time: about 45 minutes. Notes: To drizzle the aioli over the mussels, put it in a sturdy plastic food bag, cut one corner, and squeeze it over the mussels. Leftover aioli is excellent on sandwiches or blended with an avocado for a quick dip.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a food processor, whirl egg yolks, mustard, salt, pepper, and 1 garlic clove until smooth. With motor running, add olive oil in a thin, steady stream until mixture is emulsified. Add lemon juice and pulse to blend. Transfer aioli to a bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.
Step 2
2
In a 4-qt. saucepan, combine wine, remaining 3 garlic cloves, and onion. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add mussels, cover, and simmer until shells have opened, about 6 minutes.
Step 3
3
With a slotted spoon, scoop mussels from pan into a serving bowl, discarding any that haven't opened. Whisk butter into wine mixture until melted, then stir in parsley. Pour sauce over mussels and serve immediately with the aioli.
Step 4
4
Wine note: Pinot Gris/Grigio, the West is awash in wine from this grape; it's mostly called Pinot Grigio and made in the steely, citrusy Italian style. The French--and Oregonians--call it Pinot Gris and give it rounded layers of melon and pear with tangy, earthy minerals alongside the citrus. Pinot Gris works best with fairly simple seafood and poultry, so the layers don't get muddled, but it gets along fine with a lot of herbs. We also like it with lemony sauces such as aioli.
Step 5
5
Our picks:
Step 6
6
Claiborne & Churchill Pinot Gris 2005 (Arroyo Grande; $18). Creamy stone fruit sweetens the mussels.
Step 7
7
Rex Hill Vineyards Pinot Gris 2005 (Oregon; $17). Lean and minerally, with tart apricot balancing creamy lemon flavors; this wine matches both the sweetness and the garlicky brininess of the mussels.
Step 8
8
WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Gris 2005 (Willamette Valley; $18). Citrus, creamy peaches and apricots, flowers, and minerals; it "has its own moment with the mussels," according to one of our tasters.
Step 9
9
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup mild extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups Pinot Gris or other dry white wine
1 onion, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced
2 pounds mussels in shells, scrubbed and beards pulled off
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Step 1
1
In a food processor, whirl egg yolks, mustard, salt, pepper, and 1 garlic clove until smooth. With motor running, add olive oil in a thin, steady stream until mixture is emulsified. Add lemon juice and pulse to blend. Transfer aioli to a bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.
Step 2
2
In a 4-qt. saucepan, combine wine, remaining 3 garlic cloves, and onion. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add mussels, cover, and simmer until shells have opened, about 6 minutes.
Step 3
3
With a slotted spoon, scoop mussels from pan into a serving bowl, discarding any that haven't opened. Whisk butter into wine mixture until melted, then stir in parsley. Pour sauce over mussels and serve immediately with the aioli.
Step 4
4
Wine note: Pinot Gris/Grigio, the West is awash in wine from this grape; it's mostly called Pinot Grigio and made in the steely, citrusy Italian style. The French--and Oregonians--call it Pinot Gris and give it rounded layers of melon and pear with tangy, earthy minerals alongside the citrus. Pinot Gris works best with fairly simple seafood and poultry, so the layers don't get muddled, but it gets along fine with a lot of herbs. We also like it with lemony sauces such as aioli.
Step 5
5
Our picks:
Step 6
6
Claiborne & Churchill Pinot Gris 2005 (Arroyo Grande; $18). Creamy stone fruit sweetens the mussels.
Step 7
7
Rex Hill Vineyards Pinot Gris 2005 (Oregon; $17). Lean and minerally, with tart apricot balancing creamy lemon flavors; this wine matches both the sweetness and the garlicky brininess of the mussels.
Step 8
8
WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Gris 2005 (Willamette Valley; $18). Citrus, creamy peaches and apricots, flowers, and minerals; it "has its own moment with the mussels," according to one of our tasters.
Step 9
9
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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